Oakley offers science-themed kids' activities this month

OAKLEY -- Youngsters here can explore the fun of science this month during a weeklong series of city-sponsored activities.

Oakley's annual Science Week will be April 20 to 27, during which the city's recreation department will hold eight free workshops for young people as well as their families.

And there's an incentive for participating: Youth can pick up a "passport" either at City Hall or a workshop and have it stamped for attending. Those who collect at least five stamps will get a prize at the end of the series.

Here's the lineup:

Earth Day at the Creek: 10 a.m., April 20 at Creekside Park. Learn about the importance of keeping waterways clean at booths where there will be games, crafts and other activities. Visitors can get an up-close view of the Marsh Creek restoration project at this park as well.

Delta Science in Action! 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 21 at Big Break Regional Shoreline's visitor center, 69 Big Break Road. Visitors to the new interpretive visitors center just might glimpse some of the six dozen or so birds and mammals that call the area home.

LEGO Engineering: 3:30 p.m. April 24 at Ironhouse Elementary School, 4801 Frank Hengel Way. Children will learn the science behind some of California's landmarks and will build a model of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as a power-generating windmill.

OWLS Thursday: 3:30 p.m. April 25, Big Break Regional Shoreline's visitor center, 69 Big Break Road. Parks naturalist Mike Moran will explain why owls are important to the environment, and young people will dissect owl pellets -- thumb-size masses of undigested fur, bones, teeth and feathers -- to find out what these birds of prey eat!

The Reptile Kingdom, 3:30 p.m. April 26, Vintage Parkway Elementary School, 1000 Vintage Parkway. "Python Ron" will introduce participants to more than a dozen species of very-much-alive reptiles, including an 18-foot python.

Extreme Delta, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27, Ironhouse Sanitary District, 450 Walnut Meadows Drive. First there were reptiles, now live raptors! The Native Bird Connection will bring hawks, owls, falcons and possibly even an eagle. In addition, there will be crafts and other activities.